May 2014 Minutes

The meeting was held in the Parish hall and started at 7:07. There were 33 souls present.

Officer Mike Keaney gave his police report. There were 95 documented incidents of which 32 were of a domestic nature. There were 19 arrests. Mike announced that there are extra officers on the beat now from 8pm to 3:45am for the summer.

Lauren Bryant, Project Manager from the Parks and Recreation Department, gave an update on the Adams/King and Hemenway Park improvements and renovations. Hemenway will be worked on first. Three community meetings were held to get neighborhood input. $280,000 will be spent in equipment and installation. There will also be adult exercise equipment as well as age appropriate (2-5 and 5-12) sections for kids. The hope is to start in the fall and finish by spring.

Adams/King is a $410,000 project with a lot of construction items. This park is better for the 2-5 year old kids and should be completed by the fall of 2015. The Christmas tree will stay. If people encounter problems in the parks, they should call the Park line at 617-635-PARK [7275].

Karl Coiscou and Amy Southers provided an update on the summer programs for kids in the area. The program started in 2007 as family barbecues and has now evolved into a program with 200 kids and 40 councilors last summer. Field trips are included in the program. The cost is $90 for 6 weeks and the program works with families who cannot afford the cost. Karl and Amy are always looking for sponsors and supplies. Contact 617-825-1052 or wainwrightpark@gmail.com for more information.

Andy Davis, President of Carney Hospital spoke on events happening at the Carney. He noted that the hospital has been in existence for 151 years and is currently serving 30,000 in the community. A family medicine program is slated to begin July 1st that will train doctors for family medicine. Carney now is affiliated with the Harvard Street Health Center on Blue Hill Avenue. Carney is part under the Stewart umbrella and is one of eleven for-profit hospitals in the system. The gynecology clinic has moved to Brockton. When asked about the proposed methadone clinic at the hospital, Andy said it was a rumor that spread like wildfire. There had been discussions of a clinic to help people with drug problems, that that is not happening. He said that 25-30% of the employees are local people.

The St. Marks Area Civic Association is a group of community conscious residents who want to improve the quality of life in our section of Dorchester. We meet in the lower hall of St, Marks Church, at 1725 Dorchester Ave on the last Tuesday of each month